Common Ways Flood Damage Can Impact Your Home

Types Of Flood Damage

Deterioration Of Drywall
Flooding in your home can compromise the structural integrity of the drywall. When the drywall absorbs moisture, it may crumble or become soft. The insulation inside the wall may also become damaged as it absorbs water. As these materials retain bacteria-containing water they can also develop mold. Mold in your walls not only weakens the drywall and can cause rot in structural supports, but it also can trigger allergies or cause illness to those living within the home. Even if you can’t see damage to your drywall, it is good to have it assessed for flood damage to ensure there will be no mold growth. If mold is developing, call a mold remediation expert to remove it.

Damage To The Foundation
Damage to the foundation of the home can cause a multitude of problems and can be a serious threat to the structural integrity of your home. If the soil or clay that the concrete base of your home sits on absorbs water, the entire base of the home can shift. Even minor shifts can lead to cracked walls, damaged pipes, or a sagging roof. In severe cases of flooding, such as those seen in Calgary in 2013, the soil under homes can be eroded away and cause the home to detach from the foundation.

Misaligned Window And Door Frames
When the foundation of a home shifts, doors and windows can become difficult to open and close due to the change in the structure of their frame. Door and window frames can also become distorted if the wood of the frame has absorbed any moisture from the flood and has expanded at all. It only takes a minor change for your doors and windows to become difficult to open and close. 

Destroyed Possessions
Your home isn’t the only thing at risk during a flood; furniture that has become wet during the flood may develop mold, documents and photographs can be destroyed, electronics can short circuit. To help protect your items from minor flooding, try to keep anything valuable (including items with sentimental value) raised off the ground. For example, keep your important documents in a raised filing cabinet instead of in a box on the floor, and put your photo albums on a high shelf. You can also keep items in plastic bins. For items such as papers and art, there may be no salvaging them from flood damage so it’s best to take preventative measures.

Health And Safety Risks
Flooding can cause health risks you haven’t thought of. We all know the dangers of severe flooding that sweeps possessions and people away, but minor flooding presents other dangers. Flood water contains lots of hazardous microbes from backed-up sewage as well as bacteria, bugs, and organic material from outside. This makes flood water dangerous and you shouldn’t get it on your skin or breathe in the air around flood water. When your home floods, the water can become electrified from electric sockets or electrical appliances. If your home floods, shut off power to that area right away. If you have to get through the water to shut off the power, make sure you are wearing rubber boots and respiratory protection. These will help keep you safe from bacteria and electricity. If any water does get on you, wash it off right away and wash your clothes.

Flood Damage Cleanup in Calgary                                                                                                                                                                                                                              If your home has sustained flood damage, make sure it is cleaned up safely and comprehensively. Flood damage that is not properly handled can lead to mold development and further damage. If your home has flood damage, contact the professional flood mitigation and cleanup technicians at 24/7 Restoration. At 24/7 Restoration, we ensure that your house is restored to pre-incident conditions and that your home is once again a safe and healthy environment for you and your family. If you suffer flood damage in your home, call 24/7 Restoration any time, day or night, at 1-403-247-4365, or fill out the online contact form with any questions you have.

FAQ

Q: Is there any way to guarantee my basement won’t flood?                                                                                                                                                                                    A: Some preventive steps can help to reduce the risk of flooding and subsequent flood and water damage, but there’s no way to guarantee. Read Prepare Your Home For Spring Thaw for tips to prevent flood damage in your home. Having the 24/7 Restoration phone number handy is a great step for preventing flood damage, as the sooner you call, the sooner the damage can be fixed.

Q: What causes flooding?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
A: Two main types of flooding can occur; flooding from within the home and flooding from outside. Heavy rains, rising river levels, and snow melts (depending on the season) can cause flooding in the streets and this can get into the home through the foundation, through windows, or through overwhelmed pipes that back up. Flooding can also come from within the home such as when pipes are blocked or frozen and the water has nowhere to go. To help prevent damage from within the home, read Common Causes Of Sewer Backup And Fast Fixes.

Q: What do your flood damage restoration services include?                                                                                                                                                                             
A: Our flood damage services include:

• Water extraction and removal
• Drying and Dehumidification
• Humidity and airflow control
• Structure Reconstruction and Restoration
• Mold Remediation/Removal